Negotiations are ongoing to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal—the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)—that would temporarily see Tehran give up its ambitions to develop nuclear weapons in exchange for the removal of U.S. sanctions on its economy. But it seems that the United States isn’t doing much negotiating at all because it doesn’t even sit at the negotiating table, a stipulation made by Iran since it refuses direct talks. Instead, the Kremlin is negotiating on Washington’s behalf.
Convention of States Action, in partnership with polling company the Trafalgar Group, published the results of a new national survey that shows a majority of the American public disagrees with the administration and thinks that Russia should not be negotiating on America’s behalf, mainly because it is currently invading the democratic nation of Ukraine.
Meckler told JNS Russia’s representation of the United States in the talks is “not in the interest of America or Israel, and there is a groundswell in this country to put a stop to it.”
According to the poll, 77.5 percent of American voters believe the Biden administration should not allow Russia to continue to negotiate on America’s behalf, while 2.3% of American voters believe the Biden administration should allow Russia to do so.
Some 68.6% of Democrat voters believe that the Biden administration should not allow Russia to negotiate on its behalf, while 2.5% say it should.
Some 87.6% of Republican voters believe that the Biden administration should not allow Russia to continue to negotiate, while 2.9% say yes.
The poll results were from surveys conducted from March 18 through March 21 of more than 1,000 likely voters in the 2022 U.S. midterm elections. The response rate was 1.43% and the margin of error 2.99%.
“Americans are watching with horror every day as Russia continues its ugly war against Ukraine, and have heard strong language from the Biden administration condemning Putin’s government,” said Meckler.
“Voters are also well aware that the U.S. is leveling sanctions [against Russia], coordinating with NATO to support Ukraine and providing weapons to those fighting Russian aggression,” he added. “They know Russia is hostile to American interests around the world. Yet [U.S.] President [Joe] Biden is continuing his policy empowering Putin’s government to negotiate with Iran on our behalf. A supermajority of voters opposes this flagrant and incomprehensible double standard and wants to see it put to a stop immediately.”
‘We hope the voices of are heard’
According to U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), the deal isn’t much of a deal at all because all America would get in return is the release of U.S. hostages, a more volatile Middle East, and no path to a longer and stronger deal.
Iran, on the other hand, would benefit greatly from the deal as it will receive billions of dollars of frozen funds; access to European and Asian financial markets; access to international markets; and a green light to export 2.5 million barrels of oil per day. Iran would also have no restrictions on regional terrorism, no restrictions on ballistic-missile activities after 2023 and no meaningful restrictions on its nuclear program after 2031.
If those details end up in the final agreement, they would run counter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s promise that any new deal would be “longer and stronger” than the 2015 deal.
Rabbi Tuly Weisz, director of Israel365, told JNS: “At this moment of great global uncertainty, Israelis are simply shocked at the eagerness the Biden administration is pushing for the Iran deal and horrified that Biden is working with Russia to harm Israel. It’s a relief that an overwhelming majority of Americans oppose these insane negotiations, and we hope the voices of the 80% are heard in Washington.”